Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Ibn Bāz (رحمه الله)
Question:
If I recite a verse of prostration (sajdah), is it obligatory for me to perform the sajdat al-tilāwah?
Answer:
Sajdat al-tilāwah is a strongly emphasized Sunnah (sunnah muʾakkadah). It is not appropriate to leave it out. Whenever a person recites a verse of prostration—whether reading it from memory, from the Qur’an, during prayer, or outside of it—he should perform the sajdah.
However, it is not obligatory in the sense that its omission would make a person sinful. It is reported that Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) once recited the verse of prostration from Sūrat al-Naḥl while on the minbar, then came down and performed the sajdah. The following Friday, he recited it again but did not perform the sajdah. He then said,
“Allah has not made it obligatory for us to perform this sajdah unless we choose to do so.”
He did this in the presence of all the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
It is also reported that Zayd ibn Thābit (رضي الله عنه) recited a verse of prostration from Sūrat al-Najm before the Prophet ﷺ and did not perform the sajdah. If sajdat al-tilāwah had been obligatory, the Prophet ﷺ would have commanded him to perform it.
Therefore, sajdat al-tilāwah is a strongly emphasized Sunnah and it is better not to neglect it. It can be performed even during prohibited times (such as after Fajr or after ʿAṣr prayers) because this sajdah has a reason (sabab), and actions with a valid reason can be performed during prohibited times—such as sajdat al-tilāwah and taḥiyyat al-masjid.
And Allah knows best.
Question:
If I recite a verse of prostration (sajdah), is it obligatory for me to perform the sajdat al-tilāwah?
Answer:
Sajdat al-tilāwah is a strongly emphasized Sunnah (sunnah muʾakkadah). It is not appropriate to leave it out. Whenever a person recites a verse of prostration—whether reading it from memory, from the Qur’an, during prayer, or outside of it—he should perform the sajdah.
However, it is not obligatory in the sense that its omission would make a person sinful. It is reported that Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) once recited the verse of prostration from Sūrat al-Naḥl while on the minbar, then came down and performed the sajdah. The following Friday, he recited it again but did not perform the sajdah. He then said,
“Allah has not made it obligatory for us to perform this sajdah unless we choose to do so.”
He did this in the presence of all the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
It is also reported that Zayd ibn Thābit (رضي الله عنه) recited a verse of prostration from Sūrat al-Najm before the Prophet ﷺ and did not perform the sajdah. If sajdat al-tilāwah had been obligatory, the Prophet ﷺ would have commanded him to perform it.
Therefore, sajdat al-tilāwah is a strongly emphasized Sunnah and it is better not to neglect it. It can be performed even during prohibited times (such as after Fajr or after ʿAṣr prayers) because this sajdah has a reason (sabab), and actions with a valid reason can be performed during prohibited times—such as sajdat al-tilāwah and taḥiyyat al-masjid.
And Allah knows best.
